Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has rejected claims that he is an authoritarian leader.

Erdogan's comments came after a harsh police crackdown against antigovernment protesters.

Erdogan, whose Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party has been in power since 2002, is accused by opponents of becoming increasingly authoritarian.

The Turkish prime minister rejected these allegations when addressing supporters in Ankara on June 2.

"[Demonstrators] have been removing cobblestones and breaking windows of local stores," he said. "Is this democracy? They say Tayyip Erdogan is a dictator. I have nothing to say if they call the person who has committed himself to serving his nation a dictator."

Erdogan accused protesters of undermining democracy in Turkey.

He declared that 89 police vehicles, 42 private cars, four buses, and 94 businesses were destroyed by the "vandalism" of the recent unrest.

"Unfortunately, we have been witnessing undesired incidents, attacks, and provocations over the past few days," he said. "We are once again experiencing the traps that in the past used to threaten governments and create chaotic scenes in order to pave the way for interventions against democracy."

His comments come as more skirmishes broke out in Ankara on June 2, with police unleashing tear gas at several thousand protesters who tried to march toward Erdogan's office from the city's main square.